Are You Ready To Rock Out?

If you’re thinking of “rockin” your counter tops with natural granite you’ll need to understand beyond its mystical beauty of how to make it work for your specific purpose and space. Mottled, monochromatic or veined; gold or bold blue; affordable or budget breaking, granite defies nearly all typecasting, except that it is all the rage for kitchen surface durability. It's a natural stone, so every individual slab of the hundreds of named colors is unique in its hue, patterning and shading. And because the choices can be overwhelming to the uninformed, here are some tips for finding your perfect rock.

Paying for more than you use. Typically, suppliers will charge you for the whole slab, regardless of how much you use. Keep in mind that a unique natural pattern may require more than one slab to keep the flow within your counter top looking “natural”. Ask if there will be remnants. You may find you’ll have enough left to replace the powder bathroom vanity top too.
Differences in color. Mother Nature creates some common colors such as in natural hues, however with some rarer colors, costs will increase for slabs with a scarcer hue(s). Some granites contain semiprecious stone with flecks of labradorite, which can also increase the slab's cost.
Availability. Not only the quantity of stone, but also access which can be restricted by seasonal quarries or political unrest, can affect the cost.
Sources
While granite is found nearly worldwide, most granite is mined from Brazil or India. Indian granite is typically very dense, and is available in larger slabs and has lots of movement but is affordable. Brazilian granite is plentiful and handsome.

Composition
Not all granite slabs are actually granite. For countertops, "granite" is an umbrella term that includes several quartz stones that are acid resistant. ”Standard” granites with smaller consistent patterns are excellent for the look but can help eliminate waste when laying out a template with joints.
 

Names of colors can vary. Adjacent quarries, or even different suppliers, might have different names for the same stone. For example, this slab goes by the names Luisa Blue and Van Gogh.
 


Rock lingo. "Japurana," a term that appears in many slab names, signals a slab with a flowing pattern. "Giallo," another term that appears in multiple slab names, is Italian for "yellow" or "gold."

Counter top finishes.  

Polished: The most common finish; it's mirror-like, stands up well to stains and is the least porous

Honed: A matte finish that is typically not recommended, as it can stain and scratch more easily

Brushed/satin: Similar to a honed finish, though less matte in appearance and better performing

Leather: More polished than a honed or matte finish, but with a little texture

Flamed/thermal: Created by running a flame over the slab surface; has a rough, textured appearance and a varying surface depth

Antique: Has a brushed, dull appearance that is slightly textured

With all the variables in choosing the perfect rock for your project, ask the experts and "hone" in on their knowledge, it may make your investment rock solid.Resources for this article attributed to Houzz.com , Michelle Jeresek  

Go Ahead… Make A Statement

This Wilsonville home’s staircase is the first thing you see upon entering. Transformed from contractor cookie cutter to sensational it now makes a statement that was long desired by the homeowners. Let’s face it carpet has lost its appeal in high traffic areas due to its containment of dust, odors, pet dander, and other allergy annoyances. It’s just a pain to keep clean, especially on stairs, in corners, and it wears out within seven years even if you maintain it.

 

The former staircase had an angled step where now there is a proper landing. Carpet is deceptive in hiding structural imperfections, and this staircase was no exception, after demo we had to rebuild the stringers to accommodate correct spacing for the new treads.  

 

We built up the sides of the staircase and encased it with wood and molding. The wimpy railing was replaced with a beefy curved top rail attached to Alder Fluted newel posts. The bottom two posts were moved onto the bottom step verses the original entry floor to allow more room and all were stained to match the new treads.  Straight black wrought iron balusters with a sequenced mix of scrolled ones along with decorative knuckles are the eye candy for this new look. The treads are Shing Palace Strand Hand Scraped Bamboo matching the flooring we installed on the main floor. This stuff is not only beautiful but durable with kids and a very large poodle named Barkley. Finicky as we are, we painstakingly attached the treads with fasteners from underneath in order to avoid having any nail holes. The risers, stair skirts, and staircase wrapping were painted a glossy white to match the existing trim in the house.

 

 

This remodel changed the first impression of the home’s entry and now displays a pride of ownership with practical qualities that will be timeless for years.       

 

How to Plan a Kitchen Workflow That Works

Every kitchen has workflow needs as unique as the people who use it. Here's how to design your space to suit your needs

Before starting anything else, kick off your kitchen remodel with a space plan. Picking out all the pretty things is the fun part, but function comes first — and that means deciding on a workflow and traffic plan that'll work for your lifestyle.

Determining Function
Deciding on the right layout for your kitchen is a personal decision — each individual or family uses the kitchen differently. Think about your workflow in terms of everyday function and social use. How you use your kitchen, how many people cook there at the same time, if your kitchen is also an entertaining or social space, and what your long- and short-term goals are for the kitchen.

After you've decided on your wish list, take a good look at what can actually fit into your kitchen. Some things, like islands, require a lot of space and just don't work in narrower spaces. Refrigerators can only fit in certain areas, and the kitchen layout's relationship to windows and doors is also a big priority.

Do you want an open or closed-off kitchen? While open kitchens have become trendy, a closed-off one can maximize wall storage and hide clutter after meals.

Counter Space
Focus on your sink when deciding on your workflow. The linchpin of the kitchen is the sink. It's where you spend the most time, and where it is most likely that you will want either a good view to the outside or a good connection to the social spaces in the house — or both.

Aim to have at least 18 inches of counter space on either side before putting in other appliances — with the exception of an undercounter dishwasher, of course, which works perfectly right next to the sink.

36 to 42 inches of counter workspace is workable. Don't forget to put counters around the refrigerator too, so there's room to set down items when raiding the fridge. Elbow room on either side of a range or cooktop is important too.

Of course, the function of the counter or island space depends on how a chef uses the kitchen. While some prefer putting a cooktop on an island, so the cooking is integrated into socializing, others like that space to be completely clear.

Walkway and Flow
Note your entrances and exits when determining your layout. Exits and entrances can really wreak havoc on an efficient layout. Give a cook some dedicated workspace out of the general circulation flow.

Try to stay between two and three exits — more than that makes things complicated and cuts into counter space and storage. Two ways in and out of the kitchen keeps a nice flow, especially during parties. Make the walkway for a double-sided workspace a minimum of 4 feet wide — just avoid placing appliances directly across from each other to keep the pathway clear. For a single-sided workspace, stick to 3 feet minimum.

 

For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5650992/list?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u200&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0 

Quick Bathroom Updates for the Holidays

Ok, so the family are due round, as are the neighbours and some friend from work. How can you give your bathroom the shot in the arm it so badly needs without spending vast amounts on a dramatic redecoration? As the Christmas season approaches, we all tend to glance around our houses and panic a little bit at the thought of guests and visitors, who we are convinced will notice every minor flaw in our homes. Well, the bathroom does not need to be a cause for concern. For very little outlay and just a small amount of effort, you can revitalise and update your bathroom so that when the guests arrive, it is a talking point for all the right reasons.

Firstly, let's cover the basics: A new coat of paint takes a couple of hours and can immediately refresh a room that is feeling a little worn and tired. In the bathroom, opting for white walls or a light pastel shade is usually the safest bet, for their light and space enhancing qualities. Next, check any grouting and sealant you have on display. If they are stained or housing mildew, then replacing them is a cheap job that will ensure there are no small faults to detract from your overall design and aesthetic.

On to the larger updates to your bathroom, then: We all tend to accumulate toiletries, cosmetics and cleaning supplies over time, and without sufficient storage space to house them all, even the largest bathrooms can feel cramped and cluttered. Bathroom furniture, fortunately, has recently made a triumphant return to the world of bathroom decor, so you can install some storage units to streamline and organise your bathroom safe in the knowledge that you in line with the latest in bathroom styling.

A fitted basin unit will provide you with ample storage space for all your bathroom products, will create a focal design point in your bathroom and fit over your plumbing and pipe work, resulting in a more streamlined and calm bathroom. Upgrading your bathroom mirror to a mirrored cabinet in the same finish as your vanity unit will also provide you with some handy extra storage space and complete the look of your new and improved basin area.

Exchanging your bathroom radiator for a chrome heated towel rail will instantly give your bathroom a modernising boost. Not only will you and your guests have access to warm, dry towels whenever they are needed, but it will your room and create a boutique hotel ambiance will it does so. A little multi-purpose marvel.

None of these changes need to be expensive or time consuming, and implementing them will mean that your bathroom is something you definitely won't need to worry about this Christmas.



For more information on this topic, visit the source of this article at http://goarticles.com/article/Quick-Fix-Bathroom-Updates-Before-Christmas-Season/7107104/